Client information collecting method, client information providing method, point assigning method, merchandise information providing method, and merchandise information collection apparatus using network

Abstract

Client information is collected by a client entering his or her address, name, etc. when the client buys merchandise and makes a payment. The client information is written to a CD-RW which is provided for the client. When the client uses the CD-RW to access the home page of the selling agent of the merchandise, the client information recorded on the CD-RW is transmitted to the server of a client database generation company. The server generates a client information database classified by merchandise categories.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A client information collecting method using a network, comprising: 
 attaching a writable and portable storage medium to merchandise; and    recording client information including an address and a name of a client, and information about merchandise, a manufacturer or a selling agent on the portable storage medium, wherein    when the client accesses a site in a network using the portable storage medium, the client information and the information about the merchandise, the manufacturer or the selling agent recorded on the portable storage medium can be collected.    
     
     
         2 . A client information collecting method using a network, comprising 
 storing client information including an address and a name of a client on a writable and portable storage medium, and providing the portable storage medium for the client, wherein    when the client accesses a site in a network using the portable storage medium, the client information, or the client information and information about merchandise the client bought recorded on the portable storage medium can be collected.    
     
     
         3 . The method according to    claim 1   , wherein 
 when the client accesses the site of the network using the portable storage medium, the client information and the information about the merchandise, the manufacturer or the selling agent recorded on the portable storage medium can be collected, the client information is classified according to the collected information about the merchandise or the selling agent, and a client information database is generated by merchandise categories or selling agents.    
     
     
         4 . The method according to    claim 1   , wherein 
 when the client accesses the site of the network using the portable storage medium, marketing map information is generated by linking the client information and map data stored in advance based on the collected address of the client.    
     
     
         5 . The method according to    claim 4   , wherein 
 said marketing map information is generated by categories, manufacturers, or selling agents of the merchandise bought by the client.    
     
     
         6 . The method according to    claim 4   , wherein 
 said marketing map information is obtained by classifying client based on an age or a family configuration included in the client information, and linking information about the classified client to the map data.    
     
     
         7 . The method according to    claim 1   , wherein 
 a bar code recording said information about the merchandise is printed on a reverse side of the portable storage medium.    
     
     
         8 . A client information providing method, comprising: 
 recording client information including an address and a name of a client and information about merchandise on a writable and portable storage medium attached to the merchandise, and providing the portable storage medium for the client;    collecting the client information and the information about the merchandise bought by the client recorded on the portable storage medium when the client accesses a site in a network using the portable storage medium;    generating a client information database obtained by classifying the collected client information by merchandise categories, manufacturers, or selling agents; and    providing the generated client information database.    
     
     
         9 . A client information providing method, comprising: 
 recording client information including an address and a name of a client on a writable and portable storage medium, and providing the portable storage medium for the client;    collecting the client information and information about a merchandise, a manufacturer, or a selling agent recorded on the portable storage medium when the client accesses a site in a network using the portable storage medium;    generating a client information database obtained by classifying the collected client information by merchandise categories, manufacturers, or selling agents; and    providing the generated client information database.    
     
     
         10 . A client information collecting method, comprising: 
 attaching to merchandise a writable and portable storage medium on which information available to a client is recorded;    inputting from an input device client information including an address and a name of the client when the merchandise is sold, and recording the information in the portable storage medium;    generating a client information database by classifying the input client information by merchandise categories, manufacturers, or selling agents; and    generating marketing map information by merchandise categories or selling agents by linking the client information to a map data stored in advance according to the address of the client in the client information database.    
     
     
         11 . A merchandise information collection apparatus, comprising: 
 a client information collection unit collecting the client information including an address and a name of a client and information about merchandise sold to the client or a selling agent recorded on a writable and portable storage medium when the client accesses a site of a network using the portable storage medium; and    a client information database generation unit generating a client information database obtained by classifying the client information collected by said client information collection unit by merchandise categories, manufacturers, or selling agents.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to    claim 11   , further comprising 
 a marketing map information generation unit generating marketing map information by linking an address of the client in the client information database with map data stored in advance.    
     
     
         13 . A client information collecting method using a network, comprising: 
 recording a tag code uniquely determined for each on a tag attached to merchandise, a body of the merchandise, or a case storing the merchandise; and    collecting a tag code of merchandise bought by a user and input from a portable terminal device and client information including a name and an address of the user when the user who bought the merchandise accesses a site of the network from the portable terminal device.    
     
     
         14 . A client information collecting method, comprising: 
 issuing a tag code uniquely determined for merchandise;    recording the tag code on a tag attached to the merchandise, a body of the merchandise, or a case storing the merchandise; and    collecting a tag code of merchandise bought by a user and input from a portable terminal device and client information including a name and an address of the user when the user who bought the merchandise accesses a site of the network from the portable terminal device.    
     
     
         15 . The method according to    claim 13   , wherein: 
 a manufacturer enters information about merchandise for which the manufacturer requests to issue a tag code, and obtains the tag code at a site provided by an issuer of the tag code; and    said obtained tag code is recorded on a tag attached to the merchandise, a body of the merchandise, or a case storing the merchandise, thereby putting the merchandise for sale.    
     
     
         16 . The method according to    claim 13   , wherein 
 a client information database is generated by merchandise and by manufacturers based on the collected client information and tag code.    
     
     
         17 . A point assigning method using a network, comprising: 
 recording a tag code uniquely determined for each on a tag attached to merchandise, a body of the merchandise, or a case storing the merchandise; and    assigning to a user who bought merchandise a point set in a tag code of the merchandise bought by the user input from a portable terminal device when the user accesses a site of the network from the portable terminal device.    
     
     
         18 . A point assigning method using a network, comprising: 
 recording or displaying on an advertisement medium a tag code uniquely determined for the advertisement medium; and    assigning a user a point set in the tag code when the user accesses a site in the network using the tag code.    
     
     
         19 . The method according to    claim 17   , wherein: 
 said site is accessed, client information including an input name and address and the tag code are collected, and a client database is generated; and    a discount rate or an acquired point for a client who buys merchandise of a same manufacturer more frequently is set higher based on the client database.    
     
     
         20 . The method according to    claim 17   , wherein 
 points are managed such that points issued by a plurality of manufacturers can be commonly used; and    merchandise can be bought at a discount by downloading a point acquired by a client from the site to a portable terminal device or a terminal device of a store.    
     
     
         21 . A client information providing method, comprising: 
 recording a tag code uniquely determined for each on a tag attached to merchandise, a body of the merchandise, or a case storing the merchandise; and    generating a client database by collecting client information including a name and an address of a user input from a portable terminal device together with the tag code when the user who bought the merchandise accesses a site of the network from the portable terminal device;    generating marketing information based on the client database; and    providing the marketing information for a manufacturer or a store.    
     
     
         22 . A merchandise information providing method using a network, comprising: 
 issuing a tag code uniquely determined for an advertisement medium or information to be provided;    recording the tag code on the advertisement medium for advertisement; and    automatically accessing a site providing information about advertised merchandise when a user accesses the site of a network using the tag code.    
     
     
         23 . The method according to    claim 21   , wherein 
 when a user accesses the site and inputs the tag code recorded on an advertisement medium, the frequency of access using the tag code is recorded to measure an effect of an advertisement on the advertisement medium.    
     
     
         24 . The method according to    claim 13   , wherein 
 said portable terminal is a portable telephone.    
     
     
         25 . A merchandise information collection apparatus, comprising: 
 a client information collection unit collecting a tag code uniquely determined for merchandise, recorded on a tag attached to merchandise, a body of merchandise, or a case storing the merchandise, and client information including a name and an address which are input from a portable terminal device when a user who bought the merchandise accesses a site in a network from a portable terminal device; and    a database generation unit generating client information database including the client information, and a manufacturer and a name of merchandise specified by the tag code collected by said client information collection unit.    
     
     
         26 . A merchandise information collection apparatus, comprising: 
 a client information collection unit collecting a tag code uniquely determined for merchandise, recorded on a tag attached to merchandise, a body of merchandise, or a case storing the merchandise, and client information including a name and an address which are input from a portable terminal device and when a user who bought the merchandise accesses a site in a network from a portable terminal device; and    a point assignment unit assigning a user who buys merchandise a point set in the tag c ode.    
     
     
         27 . A point service providing apparatus, comprising: 
 a point assignment unit issuing a tag code uniquely determined for an advertisement medium or provided information, recording or displaying the tag code on the advertisement medium for advertisement, and assigning to a user a point set in the tag code when the user accesses a site in a network and inputs the tag code recorded or displayed on the advertisement medium; and    an advertisement evaluation unit measuring an effect of the advertisement of the advertisement medium from access frequency using the tag code.    
     
     
         28 . A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for performing a process comprising: 
 recording client information including an address and a name of a client, and information about merchandise, a manufacturer or a selling agent on a writable and portable storage medium attached to the merchandise; and    collecting the client information and the information about the merchandise, the manufacturer or the selling agent recorded on the portable storage medium when the client accesses a site in a network using the portable storage medium.    
     
     
         29 . The storage medium according to    claim 28   , wherein 
 marketing map information is generated by linking the client information to map data stored in advance based on the collected address of the client.    
     
     
         30 . A computer-readable storage medium storing a client information collecting program for collecting a tag code uniquely determined for merchandise, recorded on a tag attached to merchandise, a body of the merchandise, or a case storing the merchandise, and client information including a name and an address which are input from a portable terminal device when a user who bought the merchandise accesses a site in a network from the portable terminal device,.  
     
     
         31 . A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for assigning a user who bought merchandise a point set in a tag code when the user accesses a site in a network from a portable terminal device and inputs from the portable terminal device the tag code uniquely set for merchandise, and recorded on a tag attached to the merchandise, a body of the merchandise, or a case storing the merchandise.